Matthew 5:27-30
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Sit comfortably and breathe deeply for a few seconds before you begin. As you breathe in, say the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.
Before you read today’s passage, recall that in this portion of Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount,” he is delving below the surface of obvious behaviors to teach his disciples about relationships among image-bearers of God. Now read Matthew 5:27-30.
The law God gave to Moses contained clear guidelines for shalom relationships among God’s people. But by the time Jesus walked the earth, God’s law had been reduced to a set of behaviors that disregarded the spirit of God’s intent.
In God’s kingdom, every human is to be treated with dignity and worth because every human is created in the image of God and bears God’s likeness. When Jesus speaks of “adultery” he’s referring to sexual activity detached from God’s good and perfect design for physical intimacy.
The objectification of another person for one’s personal pleasure dehumanizes that person in the mind of the offender. And whether someone acts on a selfish impulse or not is beside the point. The point is that image-bearers of God should treat each other as whole people worthy of respect.
What might happen if you began to view every person you encounter as an image-bearer of God? Take a moment to consider this and talk to Jesus about any thoughts or emotions that arise.
Read Matthew 5:27-30 again with all of this in mind.
Jesus’ language may seem extreme in this passage, but it points out how fundamentally important it is for people to regard each other as beings who bear God’s image. In God’s Kingdom, the defining characteristic of relationships is love. Love is the highest law, and when we violate this cardinal law by objectifying another person, we violate the very foundation of God’s design for humanity.
Imagine a time when you felt objectified or dehumanized by another person. What is your internal reaction as you think about this?
What can this reaction tell you about God’s view of humans created in God’s image?
As you end this time of meditation, get quiet and let all of these thoughts and feeling settle. Begin to invite Jesus into the silence by repeating his name over and over until you feel centered. Then listen.
What do you believe Jesus might be saying to you today?
What will you do in response?
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